Thinking of buying or adopting
a Gordon Setter?

Gordon Setter Overview

The Gordon Setter is a large dog, the heavyweight of the Setter breeds and is one of the vulnerable native breeds listed by the Kennel Club (UK). It is a member of the Gundog group (UK). It takes its name from the Duke of Gordon who introduced the original black and white or black/white and tan breed back in 1820 at the large kennel in Gordon Castle in Scotland. The original purpose of the Gordon Setter was to hunt partridge or grouse, pheasant, ptarmigan, blackgame, snipe, or woodcock gamebirds. The Gordon is described as alert, courageous, curious, loyal, and responsive. It is characterised by its stylish deep, shining coal black and tan coat with long and silky featherings on the upper portion of the ears, long fine, flat and straight hairs on the back of legs and fringes on the belly, chest, and throat. The average size of a male Gordon Setter is 66cms while a female stands at 62cms from shoulder on average. Weight ranges between 29.5kg and 25.5kg for males and females respectively.

Gordon Setter Characteristics

Intelligence

Intelligence

All dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.

Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.

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Exercise Needs

Exercise Needs

All dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.

Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.

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Dogs Health

Dogs Health

There are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.

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Child Friendly

Child Friendly

There are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.

Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.

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Apartment

Apartment

There are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.

Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.

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Shedding

Shedding

All dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.

If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.

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Grooming Needs

Grooming Needs

All dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.

Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.

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Barking

Barking

Barking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.

Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.

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Alone

Alone

Majority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.

Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.

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Trainability

Trainability

There are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.

Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.

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Energy Levels

Energy Levels

All dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.

High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.

Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.

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Dog friendly

Dog friendly

Before you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.

There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.

Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.

Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.

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History & Origin

It is generally agreed by experts that the Setter’s early progenitors were the old Land Spaniel known throughout Europe during the middle of the 1800s. It is also likely that an influence of Hound or Pointer blood has been added to the mix that resulted in the development of the breed. The Gordon Setter that we know today is predominantly black with tan markings on the muzzle, legs, and on the chest. However, the original dogs were actually tri-colour – black, white, and tan and were simply called “black and tan setters.” These setters were bred by various breed enthusiasts but the most famous of them being a certain Mr. Coke of Longford and Alexander Gordon, the 4th Duke of Gordon, who were said to often bred together and interchanged setters frequently to obtain fresh blood for their respective kennels. It was the Duke’s Gordon Castle kennel who would eventually become the foundation stock of the modern Gordon Setter that we know today which the Kennel Club named after in 1924.

Gordon Setter Temperament

It is considered to be the biggest and heaviest among the different setter type dogs. Its stamina and energy in the field make up for its lack of speed compared to the other setters and pointers. As a breed, the Gordon Setter is one of the late maturing dogs, typically becoming an adult at the age of 3 years or older. It is described as bold and outgoing with an even disposition. The Gordon Setter is also highly intelligent, loyal and affectionate to his family. It thrives on attention and love and is an excellent family dog. Young and adult Gordons alike can be quite boisterous.

Training

The Gordon Setter is an affectionate and loyal dog that loves to please its handler. It is an intelligent breed and a strong-minded one that is able to stand the rigours of training. It is eager to learn and loves learning new commands. These qualities make the Gordon Setter highly trainable but it needs a firm but gentle handler to excel in training. Socialisation and training should start early, particularly during puppyhood to harness the full potential of the dog. Teaching the dog to “come” when commanded should be on top of basic command training because the natural instinct of the Gordon to hunt can make it wander into dangerous areas when it detects an interesting scent.

Grooming

The coat of the Gordon Setter can be either straight or slightly wavy but is always shiny. It has long and silky featherings on the upper portion of the ears, long fine, flat and straight hairs on the back of legs and fringes on the belly, chest, and throat. The coat needs to be brushed or combed twice or three times a week to help keep the coat from matting and tangles. The featherings on the legs and feet should be trimmed regularly to keep debris from becoming entangled when the dog is outdoors. The ears should be inspected for ear infections and cleaned regularly.

Health

This energetic, fun-loving breed is generally a healthy breed with a median lifespan of 10 to 12 years. Although it is a healthy breed, it is possible that one or more of the following health issues may affect the breed, including:

Canine hip dysplasia – the abnormal formation of the hip socket which can cause crippling lameness and painful arthritis of the joints;

Hypothyroidism – an endocrine system disorder where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone;

Gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV) – also known as gastric torsion or bloat, is where the stomach become overstretched and rotated caused by excessive gas content;

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) – is characterised by the bilateral degeneration of the retina, causing progressive loss of vision resulting in blindness;

Cataracts – a clouding of the lens in the eye which leads to decrease vision;

Cerebellar Ataxia – a hereditary disease that affects the cerebellum of the brain which is associated with balance and coordination.

Exercise

This working dog needs a moderate amount of exercise in order to stay healthy. As a hunting dog, it was originally bred to run and have a lot of stamina in the field. An hour to an hour and a half of hearty exercise on a daily basis is perfect for the breed. However, young puppies (particularly below 18 months) should not be over-exercised to prevent injuries or any problems later in life.

Children and other pets

The Gordon Setter is quite an energetic dog. Although it is patient by nature, it may not be a suitable pet for a household with small children because its size can easily knock a small child down in innocent play. It can become aggressive towards other dogs but it’s very uncommon for the breed. It can become jealous of other pets around the house but socialising and training the Gordon at an early age to share the attention and affection of the family with other house pets will help correct this attitude.